Port Royal development not abandoned - Vaz

Government minister in charge of investments, Daryl Vaz, is adamant that the Andrew Holness administration is committed to the redevelopment of Port Royal.

Vaz told The Sunday Gleaner that claims that the planned redevelopment is being stalled by bureaucracy are unfounded.

"You will hear more about the redevelopment with the divestment of the Norman Manley International Airport, as many of the investors interested in the airport are also interested in the development of Port Royal and that entire area," said Vaz.

He said cruise shipping will be a big part of the new-look Port Royal, and despite claims that a pier will not be constructed in the town, that is not a done deal.

"The cruise port is still a possibility but we are looking at several different options as we consider how best to make it happen," said Vaz.

Former chief engineer at the Urban Development Corporation, John Allgrove, in a letter to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, has argued that Port Royal is the most logical south coast cruise ship port location for many reasons, including:

The historical and archaeological aspects of Port Royal provide ready- made major interests.

The location allows for provision of a well-sheltered cruise ship dock which can accommodate the largest cruise ships and without the need for dredging.

The layout allows for easy separation and development of the tourist-related operations and renovation/upgrading of the old town.

It is very easy to control the tourist operations in such a way as to avoid most, if not all, the tourist/taxi/vendor/people control issues which occur in Ocho Rios, Falmouth, and Montego Bay.